Victor Olofsson and Jacob Bryson are a pair of players the Buffalo Sabres could move, but Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is another name that creeps up.
Trade rumors are afloat this time of the year, and if you’re a Buffalo Sabres fan, you probably heard of a few rumors regarding Victor Olofsson. But he may not be the only member of the Blue and Gold potentially on their way out via trade.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s name has also been thrown around the rumor mill. So are the Sabres willing to trade the 24-year-old after he played in just 46 NHL games? Here are three reasons why they will.
Why the Buffalo Sabres could trade Luukkonen
1 – Sabres may want a more experienced goaltender
For the first time in forever, the Buffalo Sabres will enter 2023-24 expecting to contend for a playoff spot, so going into the season with two inexperienced goaltenders isn’t a great idea. While Devon Levi showed us he can handle immense pressure despite playing in just seven games, Luukkonen has been stagnant, at best.
Therefore, the Sabres could look to upgrade the position via trade for a player like Connor Hellebuyck. We all know Hellebuyck will cost some compensation, just like any sound, experienced goaltender would.
And for such an experienced goaltender like Hellebuyck, it would make sense to flip Luukkonen to the team they are trading with, the Winnipeg Jets in this scenario. This would give the contending Sabres more experience in the net, while a team like Winnipeg gets at least a stopgap.
2 – Luukkonen has potential to be a serviceable goalie
Despite putting up poor numbers last season that included a 3.61 GAA, a 0.406 quality starts percentage, and a 0.891 save percentage, Luukkonen showed on multiple occasions that he can transform into at least a serviceable NHL goaltender. He showed off immense production in January 2023, and that will show rebuilding teams or those looking for a young goaltender that he can be a consistent player in the NHL.
If they have an older goaltender or even a blueliner to give up in favor of younger talent, then they could inquire to the Buffalo Sabres about potentially including Luukkonen in a trade package. At the end of the day, they would get a young goaltender with potential while the Sabres get experience either on the blue line or in the net.
3 – Luukkonen reduces a potential goaltender controversy
Finally, what if the Buffalo Sabres went out and signed an experienced goaltender capable of becoming at least a 1B? If they did this and moved no one, you would have Eric Comrie, Luukkonen, and Levi, along with a newly-signed netminder.
Comrie would be an easy odd man out, and the Sabres would likely put him on waivers where he would either revert to Rochester, or find a home elsewhere. But that would still leave three NHL-caliber goaltenders come September.
To prevent any potential controversy from creeping up, Buffalo trades Luukkonen in the coming weeks, signs or trades for a more experienced goaltender, and would go into the season with Goaltender X and Devon Levi, while they would still waive Comrie before the regular season.
Moving Luukkonen after, or even in the process of acquiring another goaltender, prevents Buffalo from going with three netminders in 2023-24. Unlike last season when they had three on the active roster when Comrie returned from injury.
(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)